My 2025 Summer Reading List: A Review of Books from June, July, and August
Welcome to my summer reads roundup! This post covers the books that filled my completed stack during June, July, and August. It was a great mix of genres, from classic history and science fiction to modern thrillers and finance guides.
August
The Shaanxi Opera by Jia Pingwa
This book was the one of the reasons my finished stack the last two months was light. My in-laws were visiting from China for the last few months, and they were reading this book. It was in Chinese, so I used ChatGPT to translate it and grabbed this title from Audible. It was an amazing read that brought to my mind Steinbeck. It was about the cultural changes that happened in rural China during their period of industrial growth in the 70s and how traditions can fade over generations. It is one of those novels that feels like it should be required reading because of the dense themes and honest look at how progress can affect rural communities. A universal theme told using Chinese storytelling and through a Chinese lens.
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
Honestly, this was an ego read. At 1,312 pages, published in 1776, and I read using an audiobook, I didn’t retain much of the 1,300 years of Roman history covered. Lots of competing factions that tear at the fabric of the Roman Empire, pursuing the wealth and power that was accumulated until the eventual breakdown. At least now I can brag that I have “read” this even though the details are hard for me to recall. This is another reason there weren’t a lot of books on my finished list the last two months. It wasn’t a slog read like the bible was at times; it was just a lot of information that was hard for me to process and retain when listening to it in an audio format.
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
I am a big fan of the Netflix series, and this book didn’t disappoint. I liked the ability to get into Uhtred’s thinking in the book, so if you like the Netflix series, you should pick up the book. Another aspect that is not in the shows is the descriptions of how the Danish lived and built things, something the TV show glosses over.
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
This was my second Freida McFadden book. I liked it better than The Crash; the twists were satisfying, and not all of them were easily predictable. I would start with this one if you are looking for a thriller read. Read my full review of The Teacher here.
Dark Age by Pierce Brown
Definitely one of my best reads this year. There were at least two “red wedding” events in this book. It was huge, expansive, and exciting. This was the third reason June and July were sparse months for my reading. The last book in the series, Iron Gold, was only okay, but this book really took it to the next level. I am not sure if I will write a review; the book was so big that it might take me a really long time to write something that does it justice
The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security by Scott Galloway
This is a must-read for anyone who wants to take control of their financial destiny and build security for their future. Money is such an emotional thing that touches everyone’s life. It can make people crazy and even make people check out from society. This book has the practical advice everyone needs when dealing with this ever-looming constant in people’s lives. Read my full review of The Algebra of Wealth here.
July
The E-myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
This book was different from what I was expecting. But it has evergreen advice for anyone starting a business and how they can avoid the traps and make their business grow. This book is one that I plan to read again so I can really internalize the lessons into my business-building DNA. Read my full review of The E-myth Revisited here.
The Killing Floor by Lee Child
As I said in my review, this book wasn’t as fun as I was expecting. A fan of the show and a fan of detective stories, this book just lacked a little touch of humanity, and I felt Reacher just came off as a cold sociopathic killer. Again, this series is popular, and it’s the first book, so I assume it gets way better and Reacher becomes more relatable. Read my full review of The Killing Floor here.
The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World by David Deutsch
How can I sum up this book? Get it? Anyway, Deutsch uses a kind of mathematical philosophy to explore topics related to being human in the universe. Hard for me to put into words, but I guess the only way I can put it is that infinity, or the event that leads to the beginning of infinity, is the key that unlocks the true potential of humanity. The best analogy would be the alphabet. Letters that build words, that build sentences, that build paragraphs, that… and so on. Infinity. Sorry, that is the best I can do. Don’t expect a review, I feel I need to read it again, and even then a review would take me a month to put together.
June
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
Great beginners’ finance book or if you just need a roadmap to get out of debt. I think it is solid advice for people who don’t want to deal with or learn about finances. Ramsey is a straight shooter that won’t lead you astray as you build your financial future. Read my full review of The Total Money Makeover here.
Final Thoughts
That’s my summer reading list! It was a great mix of genres and ideas, from dense historical tomes and epic sci-fi to personal finance and business advice. It definitely kept me thinking and gave me plenty of material to write about.
What were you reading this summer? Let me know in the comments below!
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